SLG, Earthjustice + NY Lawmakers Urge Action on Pervasive PFAS Chemicals, Contaminating Water

SENECA FALLS, NY (09/18/2022) (readMedia)-- On Monday, Seneca Lake Guardian – with Earthjustice, Senator Rachel May and outgoing Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried – will urge aggressive statewide action on pervasive PFAS chemicals. These toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are known as "forever chemicals'' because they persist in the environment and are difficult to clean up. PFAS are found in many everyday products including GORE-TEX, non-stick pans and even popcorn bags. Once those items make their way to landfills, such as New York's largest landfill Seneca Meadows, leachate containing PFAS make their way from the landfills to our drinking water sources. Located in Seneca Falls, Seneca Meadows landfill produces 75 million gallons of leachate every year which is hauled, untreated, to Buffalo, Watertown, Chittenango, Steuben County and even Newark, New Jersey, all of which bear the cost burden of filtering it out of local drinking sources.

Senator May will announce legislation – the "PFAS Surface Water Discharge Disclosure Act" – which would require annual testing for all facilities permitted to discharge water. There are no federal or state regulations currently requiring PFAS disclosures from all facilities that might be discharging it.